In February, Mercedes-Benz continued the positive trend of the past several months, with sales rising by 10%. This was the 16th month in a row that sales grew at a double-digit rate. In total, 79,500 customers worldwide (February 2010: 72,100) purchased a passenger car from Mercedes-Benz. Since the beginning of the year, deliveries have therefore risen by 17 percent to 162,200 units (January-February 2010: 139,100).

Dr. Joachim Schmidt, Executive Vice President Sales and Marketing Mercedes-Benz Cars: “After a strong start into the new year, our sales continued to develop positively in February. We were once again able to grow in many markets — particularly in Asia, but also in the U.S., and the other BRIC countries. We expect sales to get another boost in the coming weeks from a number of new products. After premiering at the Geneva Motor Show, the new generation of the high-volume C-Class and the new SLK will hit dealer showrooms at the end of March. The customer response to these two vehicles has already been fantastic.” Starting from summer, additional momentum will be generated by the new C-Class coupe, which also celebrated its premiere in Geneva. Dr. Schmidt: “Based on our recent success, we expect sales to grow significantly in the first quarter, putting us on track to achieve a new sales record in 2011.”

Mercedes-Benz sales continued to rise in China (incl. Hong Kong) in February, with the brand achieving a new sales record of 12,200 units (February 2010: 7,300). Deliveries rose by 66 percent in February and by 77 percent since the start of the year (27,700 units/January-February 2010: 15.700 units). As a result, Mercedes-Benz is the fastest-growing premium brand in China. Last month, high growth rates were also posted in Russia (up 100 percent), Brazil (up 67 percent), and Taiwan (up 61 percent). Moreover, Mercedes-Benz set new sales records in South Korea (up 22 percent), India (up 48 percent), and Australia (up 18 percent).

Mercedes-Benz continued to grow in the U.S. in February, with sales rising by four percent to 15,500 vehicles (February 2010: 14,900). During the first two months of the year, the brand sold 31,900 units, representing an eight percent increase (January-February 2010: 29.600 units).

At 14,800 units, sales of Mercedes-Benz in Germany reached previous year’s level (February 2010: 15,000). With a market share of eight percent, Mercedes-Benz was once again the leading premium brand in Germany. The registration figures of Germany’s Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) showed that the new CLS and the S-Class lead the luxury segment last month. The E-Class Coupe and the B-Class were also the market leaders in their respective segments. Since the beginning of the year, Mercedes-Benz has increased its sales in Germany by seven percent to 25,900 units (January-February 2010: 24.200 units). Deliveries in Western Europe were up by eight percent since January, with high growth recorded in the UK (up 49 percent), Belgium (up 25 percent), Switzerland (up12 percent) and Sweden (up 36 percent)

The S-Class continues to be very popular with customers, and it was once again the world’s best-selling vehicle in its comparative segment – despite having to compete with partly much younger model series of its competitors. Sales of the luxury sedan rose by 26 percent to 5,000 units. Mercedes-Benz continues to post sales increases in the E-Class segment as well. It sold a total of 21,800 vehicles in February, representing an increase of 12 percent. Just one month before the market launch of the new generation, the C-Class is meeting with great customer response. The estate posted high growth rates with sales increasing by 39 percent. The SUV models achieved a new sales record. Sales in this segment increased by 27 percent (16,200 units), with all model series recording high double-digit growth. In the year of the start of the new compact car generation, sales in the A-Class and B-Class segment once again did well in February, rising by seven percent (14,500 units).

The smart fortwo continued its good start into the new year by posting sales growth in February as well. Deliveries increased by seven percent to 7,000 units last month (February 2010: 6,600) and by 13 percent since the start of the year (13,700 units/January-February 2010: 12.100 units). In February, growth was particularly high in China, where sales totaled 700 units, or six times more than in the same month last year. The smart fortwo also continues to be successful in Germany and gained market shares with sales rising by 25 percent last month to 1,900 units. This was the twelfth month in a row that the smart fortwo was the Number One car in its respective KBA segment.